Meet CRAY: A Voice For Beauty And Music In Today's Generation

CRAY wearing FRACTIONSSpacejam®

Being a brand that is created by artists, for artists, our philosophy has always been to support all aspects of artistry. A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to meet CRAY (also known as Cheney), a music artist on the rise who also has become an influential voice for beauty in today’s marketing world of instant gratification. Building a social following where others not only trust what you share but sense a genuine appreciation for products is something that Cheney has really established within the last year.

She had the chance to come by Lemon HQ and create her own custom Spacejam® that she made available for her fans on her website. She was able to experience what it was like as an indie brand to hand make a product, blending different colors of glitter to see what worked and what did not. In the end, we came up with a Spacejam® concept that was split to match her hair. It ended up being one of the coolest glitters we have ever created and we’re so thrilled that we were able to do it with Cheney!

FRACTIONS SPACEJAM®

A unique split to match her unique look and personality — Fractions embodies a sheer peach and a bold black blended with warm gold tints.

I’ve never been a fan of glitter because it gets everywhere but my manager goes ‘Oh... trust me. Lemonhead is gonna stick on.’ I tried it and loved it. Truly love at first sight. 

— CRAY

ABOUT CRAY

CRAY, short for Cheney Ray, is not actually an abbreviation for “crazy.”

However, the LA-based DJ, singer, producer, and gamer has been effortlessly styling Crocs and cultivating a fan base at a rate that could be defined as such, thanks to her sincere nature, genre-defiant bangers, humorous observations on life and relentless dedication to high-quality snackage since she entered the scene in 2015.

Inspired by her love for classical jazz and swing artists like Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday, CRAY brings a refreshing perspective to the electronic scene. Her inventive records allow her to avoid labels and continually reinvent her sound, resulting in a fan base that spans the indie electronic, pop and dance genres. On her latest single, “Fractions”, produced by Kid Froopy, she continues to show us a different side of her and gives us a look at what’s to come.

You can follow Cheney as @cray on Instagram and @craysounds_ on Twitter.

BEHIND THE ARTIST: CRAY

LH: We’re so glad we were able to collaborate with you! How did you discover LHLA?

C: Hard. Summer. It was in my gift bag in my trailer and I’ve never been a fan of glitter because it gets everywhere, but my manager goes ‘Oh... trust me. Lemonhead LA is gonna stick on.’ I tried it and loved it. Truly love at first sight.

LH: How did you get started as a music artist - recording music and DJing all over the world?

C: I’ve always been into the music scene. I was guest list girl and promo girl for nightclubs when I was really young so it’s always been on my radar. In college I was working towards being a manager for artists and started learning about production and the music side. I fell in love in love with it and here we are!

LH: What’s your favorite place that you have ever performed?

C: Japan with Skrillex and the Owlsa crew. It was an incredible experience.

Pictured: Skrillex on the mic while CRAY embraces the boys of POINT POINT.

LH: What’s your experience been like being a beauty and music influence to others?

C: It’s been a real gift. I never knew I’d use my voice for that kinda shit but I love supporting the products that I ACTUALLY love. I turn down a lot of money offers for bullshit products. I’d way rather put energy towards the stuff that works and show people what I use.

LH: What’s the backstory behind your single, “Fractions”?

C: Fractions is one of my most personal songs. It’s about giving yourself to someone, allowing yourself to love someone other than yourself. I’ve always had a struggle doing that but that song was about my journey learning to love someone. :) AWWWWWW

LH: What achievement are you most proud of in your life?

C: I think just being able to live doing a job I love and am passionate about. There were many points when I was applying to Target or thinking about giving up because I couldn’t afford to live and do music — but one day I was able to pay rent, eat food, make music and be happy.

LH: Have you experienced any setbacks in your career? If yes, how did you overcome them?

C: Of course. Everyday there’s an incredible amount of pressure doing this job. Constantly doubting myself, there are so many people chiming in on your life and it’s hard to learn to ignore it. I’ve gone to therapy since I was a kid and that continues to help me through all the setbacks and have a safe space to be able to rant and learn how to get past things.

LH: How do you find inspiration for your music?

C: In my everyday life. I just find inspiration in what I’ve gone through and what I continue to go through.

LH: What’s your go to makeup look for your shows?

C: EYELASH EXTENSIONS — so I don’t cry mascara lol. If I have a special show, I like doing glitter and fun colors but on average less is more. I’m a sweaty mess so it gets gross.

LH: Looking back at your own life, what advice would you go back in time and give yourself?

C: Stop doubting yourself. You’ll be ok. And invest in bitcoin

LH: When you’re not creating music, what do you do during your down time?